Pupil Premium Plus
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This chapter applies to all Children Looked After. It should be read in conjunction with the government guidance documents and related chapters.
Note that different provisions apply to children who acquire Looked After status as a result of a remand to local authority accommodation or Youth Detention Accommodation. In relation to those children, please see Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation Procedure, Care Planning for Young People on Remand.
RELEVANT GUIDANCE
DfE, Promoting the Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children
RELATED CHAPTER
AMENDMENT
This chapter was reviewed and updated in December 2024 in line with local practice and terminology.Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) funding is allocated to support Children Looked After (CLA) from reception age to Year 11 to help them to achieve their full educational potential, to develop aspirations and to achieve their goals. The Department for Education (DfE) allocates each Local Authority Pupil Premium funding each financial year for every school aged CLA. In 2024/25 the amount allocated is £2530 per pupil.
The regulations state that the grant allocation for CLA must be managed by the designated Virtual School Head (VSH) in the authority that looks after those children to be used for the benefit of the Child Looked After's educational needs as described in their Personal Education Plan (PEP). The VSH should ensure there are arrangements in place to discuss with the child's education setting – usually with the designated teacher – how the child will benefit from any pupil premium plus funding.
Distribution of the PP+ fund is managed by the Virtual School with the Virtual School.
The Pupil Premium Plus funding for 2024/25 is £2570 per child or young person (Reception to Year 11). For post-16 young people we do not allocate this funding per young person and prefer for this to be used on a needs-led basis. Both funding elements are paid to the local authority over the financial year in quarterly instalments.
Following approval by the Virtual School Governing Body, Knowsley Virtual School will retain £400 per school aged child of the Pupil Premium Plus grant. This will provide a range of targeted work and staffing to support and improve educational outcomes for children and young people. Such provision includes:
- Bespoke educational packages to support children’s access to education;
- Support to avoid or reduce suspensions and exclusions;
- Support to promote and increase young people’s engagement and attendance;
- Provision of an individualised transition programme for Year 6 pupils;
- Training for Designated Teachers, Foster Carers and Social Workers; and
- Other projects and activities that support educational attainment.
This means state, free and academy schools are able to identify support up to the amount of £2170 per Cared for Child. Children and young people attending private and independent schools do not ordinarily qualify for Pupil Premium Plus as this provision is already funded to meet a child or young person’s needs.
The Virtual Head Teacher will provide an annual report outlining the distribution and use of the Pupil Premium Plus funding. The report will be provided to the Virtual School Governing Body, made available to schools and Children’s Social Care.
Useful references:
Pupil Premium: allocation and conditions of grant 2024 – 2025
Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) post-16: section 31 grant determination letter 2024 to 2025
Pupil premium: virtual school heads’ responsibilities
Education Endowment Foundation Teaching and Learning Toolkit
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